A travelogue of workshops, meetings, discoveries, happenings and journeys around the world.

Saturday, 20 August 2011

Uzbekistan - Last preparations

This time next week I should have landed in Tashkent airport, collected my visa, passed through customs and had a few hours sleep in the hotel. I have a busy week ahead with a lot of work - including a brave effort to pack light which is always an effort for a photographer.

Weight is one of my main considerations. I hate having a lot to carry. Last week I picked up an amazing little tripod made of tent supports - the Tamrac Zipshot. I mean this is light - a mere 300 grams compared to my usual traveling one at 2.4k. OK, it isn't the rock steady unit you can use in a high wind - or even a low wind - and it is either up or down with no in betweens, but it works and with my little Sony R1 and my iPhone it is perfect for my purposes.

The Tamrac Zipshot Tripod

The weather has been cooling off - that late summer slight chill still with the deep greens and the water warm enough + 21C (for the stoic) to take an evening swim and sauna by the lake. Last night we went to Kotaniemi - a small cottage at Hirvijärvi about ten minutes from home - had a few dips between sauna and ended up grilling some sausage on a log fire and just relaxed as the sun set by the water.

So I made a short video of this amazing place. The high heat of summer gone - the place was empty except for a couple of families, and by the time I shot this we had the place more or less to ourselves.

I'm looking forward to those rather warmer days in Tashkent. The Finnish summer as glorious as it is ends too soon. This time next week - all going well - I will probably be overwhelmed by the heat that hits you when you step off the plane in another climate zone!

About Me

I live in Finland - a Canadian by birth - I still get a lump in my throat when I see documentaries of the land of my birth.
Circumstance draws one into life - to find a solid home inside ourselves. I now live in Finland - a land very much like Canada; young, adolescent and eager. I love Europe - it is like living with grandparents - people who have a long and colorful past and some wisdom from their mistakes.
The young are scurrying about trying to find their place on the technological roller coaster - but the old are calm and patient.